The Brinkley's have moved from Austin, Tx across the country to Northern Virginia! This is where Matt (my husband and business partner) grew up. We moved here to be closer to Matt's parents, and are loving it! Especially right now as so many bulbs and trees are blossoming; it's a beautiful and auspicious time for a fresh start!
This isn't our new home, just one of the lovely historic buildings in this ridiculously charming Colonial town.
Davin enjoying this spectacular magnolia!
I think daffodils have to be the most joyful of flowers. As someone who grew up in Texas, they feel like such a delightful novelty, and I'm LOVING seeing them all over town.
We're staying in an Air B&B while we close on and renovate our new house. We were only in town for 2 weeks before we found and snagged the most darling house that we can't wait to move into, but needs a little TLC before we do.
We're also finalizing negotiations on a beautiful space to house the Shannon Brinkley Studio! It is walking distance from our home and in a great spot, PLUS is a beautiful old Victorian home that was a hotel in the 1800s. It has tall ceilings, crown molding, and a kitchen for my fabric dyeing!
I can't wait to spread out and make this as functional and creative a space as possible. So leave a comment below with your best studio organization tips and tricks and we'll give you a peak behind the scenes and share lots of photos as we set up our new studio space!
24 comments
Congratulations! I moved from N. VA to PA You will love the community spirit there. My comment for setting up the studio is: lighting, everywhere. Cant have to much, up lighting to show off those great projects and lots of real or reconstructed daylight to work on them. Happy setting in.
A female work colleague (and mother to two teenaged daughters) once told me – “Touch things once”, in other words, take care of it now, not later. She was amazingly efficient. Her advice pops in my head every so often while I attempt to get organized yet again.
Happy for you and your family on your new hometown and your renovation plans for your new residence and business. Best wishes for continued success!
Welcome to NOVA! I live in Manassas and do hope you will offer classes in your soon to be new studio.
1. I love cubbie storage. I use the bins to hold scrap fabric, fabric by project, fabric by color and vintage fabric. In addition, I store my die cuts, jelly rolls and strippies in shelved cubbies. The specialty threads are stored in photo boxes. Rulers and bobbin holders, and other tools are stored in these. My idea books and magazines fill my sewing table made from cubbies. That table has a fabric covered wood top with a custom glass top. That makes everything slide for free motion.
2. A huge walk in closet with shelves almost to ceiling is a must. Storage is key. Use of cubbie storage bins and photo boxes are great. Fabric cases for charms, fat quarters and jelly rolls fit well on the shelves.
Enjoy the design process! Make sure that you think about what you like and how you work. I like organizing so I have everything in its own place. As I have worked, I find that I adjust the location of most used items.
I I would say: If you can, add gererac generator that comes on automatically when the electricity goes off. We have our freezers , refrigerators, offices and master bedroom attached to the gas driven generator. It also comes on every Tues. am for a short time as a check on the working order. We also have a gas stove with oven and an elec. oven that we use most times. I would have an automatic generator for the studio. Enjoy Va. It is very beautiful. We also enjoy the food in the area and the people are almost as friendly as in Texas. Virginia in Lufkin